‘But it was meaningful’

Saturday

Nov 9, 2013 at 6:00 AM

West Prairie Middle School honors veterans

By Lainie Steelmanlsteelman@McDonoughVoice

Monday is holiday for schoolchildren, and during a special assembly Friday afternoon West Prairie Middle School students got the chance the shake the hands of those who made the day off possible: U.S. military veterans.

Retired middle school teacher Dale Mansir organized the event and helped locate area veterans to invite, and she did the same for 2011 assembly.

During the assembly Friday, students and teachers alike stood up to name veterans from their families and then shook the hands of local veterans.

"It was not the biggest production," Mansir said following the assembly, "but it was meaningful."

Mansir, who organized a similar Veterans Day assembly in 2011, said students know they get out of school on this day each November, but they don't know why. The assembly gives students a chance to see veterans and thank them personally for their service to the country.

Army veteran Roger Oliver, who was stationed in Germany as a from 1967-69, was one of 34 veterans who attended the assembly.

"So many years post-Vietnam, there was little recognition, other than for the World War II 'Greatest Generation' veterans," he said. "It's nice that we got some recognition back. It still puts lumps in their throats when they hear their song."

In advance of the assembly, middle school students sold paper stars for $1 to which a veteran's name could be added. They will donate the $300 they raised to the Great River Honor Flight program, which provides trips for veterans to see the memorials in Washington, D.C.

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